Window blind assembly for vehicles



Sept 16, 1952 G. A. HAMRlcK WINDOW BLIND ASSEMBLY FOR VEHICLES /7 nnentor /e/m #amr/'ck (lttomeg Meaning., f ill Filed June 19, 1948 Patented Sept. 16, 1952 -UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WINDOW BLIND ASSEMBLY FORI VHICLES Glenn Al Hamrick, San Diego, Calif. Application .u'ne 19, 1948, Serial No. 34,065

3 claims. (ci. isc-6s) This invention relates to window shades for -use in vehicles and more :particularly to blinds of the Venetian type adapted'to be positioned upon the rear Windows of automobiles.

An object of the present invention is to provide Aan im-pr-oved form of automobile window blind which is designed to be readily secured to vthe framing structure of the rear window of the automobile, utilizing fastener elements thereof, and requiring no re-Working or special preparation of the automobile to permit mountlng.

Another object of this invention is the provi# sion of a Venetian type blind for an automobile rearwindow -having an improved design which effectively excludes the suns direct rays Without obstructing vision through the Window, this exclusion serving to protect occupants against ldiscomflture and to protect the upholstery against fading and rotting.

Another object of the invention resides in Iproviding an improved Venetian type blind for an automobile rear Window having a design which allows ready access t-o the window to permit cleaning thereof.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of a novel design for a Venetian type vblind for automobile rear windows embodying a supporting structure for the panels whichpermits the ready removal and replacement thereof.

A still further obj-ect of the invention is the provision of a Venetian type blind for an automobile, which is of inexpensive construction, which is readily installed, and which is eifective and eicient in operation. I

Other objects and features of the presentinvention willbe readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following specification and appended drawings wherein is illustrated a preferred form of the invention, and in which:

Figure 1 is a view of the rear portion of an automobile accommodating a Venetian` type blind according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional View of a portion of the blind illustrating the manner of attaching the blind to the rear window of the automobile.

Figure 3 is a lfragmentary perspective View of a portion of a support member utilized in the present invention.

Figure 4 is a front view of the blind as disposed within the vehicle.

Figure l5 is a fragmentary `perspective view of another embodiment of asupport member which may be employed tosupport the slats or panels.

I -Ijaving more particular reference nowto the drawings there is shown illustrated a portion of an automobile body indicated generally atl I0, in which Vportion is located a .window II. Ther por: tion of the automobile illustrated is that at the rear. It is noted that this portion of the automobile is provided with a decided slopewhere the top conve-rges into the back. This configuration is conventional or standardm present day automobiles. However, with this design the suns rays more readily fall within the automobile. To obstruct the entranceA of the suns rays into the automobile throughrear Window yII without interfering with vision therethrough a Venetian blind I2, constructed in accordance with the present invention, is applied to the inner face of rear window II.

` As illustrated blind I2 comprises a pair of elongated block-like support members I3 formedof wood, and maintained in spaced apart relation. The support members I3 comprise a rear s ide or face I4 which is disposed toward the window II, and a front side or face I5. yA plurality of vertically spaced arcuate slots IB are provided in each member I3 along the length thereof, which slots extend transversely from the front face I5 substantially the width of the member I3 to terminate short of rear face I4. Each opposed pair of slots I6 provided by the horizontally spaced support members I3 cooperate to receive and support a louver panel or`slat" I1, which slats are preferably formed of metal, having some resilience, and are curved, as best shown in Figure 2, toeiect an arc, in trans'- verse cross-section. The amount of arc providf ed the slats Il is different from that provided the slots I6 which accommodate the slats Il so that when the slats 'I1 are manuallyforced into their cooperating sl-ots the slats Hare distorted somewhat whereby their inherent tendency to assume their normal shape provides "a force which acts to maintain them securelyin position;r once assembled the slats Il, due to this force, will not inadvertently slip or fall from their seat in the slots. However, the slats I1 are not so tightly wedged into their slots that they cannot be readily manually removed to serve a purpose to be hereinafter described. The slats Il, with this construction, will beheld in vertically spaced relation, the distance between successive slats being suicient tok allow visi-on therebetween, yet closelyenough arranged to obstruct the rays of the sun. The number of slats utilized is dependent upon the height of the rear window II to be serviced. The length of the individual slats will be dependent 'upon the contour of the rear window, and it is Vundergv 3 stood that the invention contemplates varying the lengths to accommodate variations in shapes of windows. With arcuate slats II provided it is obvious that there is afforded wider obstruction areas to block the suns rays and thereby a more effective blind is presented.

To install the pair of wooden supporting members I3 in position on the rear window II there is provided for each of the members I3 an elongated metallic mounting member 2| having the extremities thereof 4bent to provide general- 1y semi-circular portions 22 and 23. The semicircular portions 22 and 23 are adapted to t upon the usual molding 24 provided to frame the window I|. The general configuration of portions 22 and 23 it is understood, should approach the configuration of the window molding so that it may readily lie thereagainst. A suitable number of screws 25 secure the mounting member 2| to the rear face III of its associated supporting member I3. To hold the mounting members 2| in operative position upon rear window the usual mounting screws 26 employed to secure the molding 24 to the automobile body are preferably utilized. As is shown in the drawings the ends of the supporting members I3 are cut away or shaped so as to clear the molding and not interfere with the mounting of the assembly upon the window. The particular configuration assumed by the ends of members I3, it is evidentl will be determined by the general contour of the rear window Il and the location of its molding in the particular automobile utilizing the invention. It is contemplated that the supporting members I3 will be given a proper shape at their ends to permit their being mounted upon the rear window and the length of the supporting members I3 will be determined by the height of the rear window I| being accommodated.

As shown in Figures l and 2 access to the lower arcuate extremities 22 of mounting elements 2| is readily had and the molding mounting screw 26 can be removed, inserted through the opening provided in arcuate portion 22 and then rethreaded into the automobile window framework 21 to secure the lower end of element 2| in position. Since the upper end of support member I3 projects over the upper arcuate por'- tion 23 access to the screw opening therein is provided by boring a passage 28' through the f support member I3. With an appropriate tool then the mounting screw 2'6 may be passed through passage 28 and through the aligned openings in portion 23 and molding 24 and rethread'ed into the window-frame work 21 to comf plete the mounting of the element 2| and its associated louver panelv supporting member I3 against the window II. Of course the upper end of support members I3 could be squared off to provide ready access to the molding mounting screws but this would necessitate the omission of the uppermost louver panel to leavev a gap in the shading assembly to detract from its over-all effectiveness.

'I'he invention contemplates that whenever possible the molding mounting screws 26 provided by the automobile will be employed, but if for some' reason these mounting screws 26 cannot be utilized then new openings will be threaded into the molding which will accept screws to fasten the upper and' lower extremities of the mounting element 2 l' in place.

The Venetian blind assembly I2', herein described, comprising a plurality of horizontally extending' transversely curved, vertically arranged louver panels, is adapted to effectively exclude a maximum of direct sunlight from the automobile While affording a minimum of interference with the vision of the driver through the rear window. Since the arrangement of the present invention wherein the various slats I1 are held in place in a pair of slots I6 by effecting a difference in curve degree between the louver panels I'I and their cooperating slots I6 provides for ready manual removal of the individual louver panels I1, easy access to the window I| is afforded for washing of the window. It is not necessary that the molding mounting screws 26 be removed and the support members I3 dismounted. Of course removal of the slats I'I may be desired for reasons other than the washing of the window, the panels may require cleaning or painting, or replacing if damaged; or it may be that the rear-seat occupants may desire a view skyward or upwardly to observe objects of interest, or mayeven desire additional sunlight to enter the automobile.

Transverse curving of the slats II is provided not only to serve to hold the slats upon the supporting members I3 but also to add rigidity to the panels and further present greater obstruction areas to the suns rays and reduce light reflection into the automobile. With the present construction there will be no annoying vibration noises since the metallic louver panels are supported and held by support members made of wood.

The elongated mounting' member 2| may be given a decorative finish such as chrome-plating so as to provide a pleasing appearance as it is viewed from the exterior.

In the second embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 5 the only distinction over the first arrangement of a window blind described above lies in the metallic mounting strips which hold the support members I3 to the window. The mounting strip, shown generallyV at 3|, utilized by the second embodiment comprises a channel shaped portion 32 which is adapted to fit over face I4 of the support block |3 and to embrace a portion of the side walls of the block. Mounting screws 33 in suitable number are passed through the opposite side walls 34 of the channel 32 and are threaded into the wooden support member i3 to secure the mounting strip 3| thereto. To hoid the mounting strip 3|v to the' window frame there is provided, as in' the mounting strip ZI of the first embodiment, generally arcuate portions 35 (only one being shown), at the extremities of and extending from the channel portion 32. These arcuate portions will be fittedv upon the molding and secured thereon by thel usualv molding mounting screws. The remainder of' the Venetian blind construction for Athis second embodiment is similar to that of the first embodiment andl is used in the same manner.

While certain preferred embodiments of the invention have been specifically disclosed. it is understood that the invention is not limited thereto as many variations will be readily apparent tothose skilled in the art and the invention is to be given its broadest possible interpretation within the terms of the following claims'.

I claim: V

1.l A window shade assembly adapted to be mounted upon the rear window of an automobile comprising a pair of spaced apart elongated support members, said support' members having a plurality of generally arcuate slots provided therein and longitudinally spaced therealong, a plurality of transversely curved unitary slats formed of a resilient material fitted in said spaced slots and readily removably supported thereby upon said support members, said spaced slots positioning said slats vertically one above the other to exclude the direct rays of the sun without obstructing vision through the rear window, the curvature of said arcuate slats being different than the curvature of said curved slats whereby said slats Will be distorted on insertion into said slots to provide a holding force which maintains said slats in position, and means to secure said support members to the frame of the rear window, said means comprising an elongated metallic mounting strip secured on which arcuate portions are adapted tobe secured by fasteners to the rear window frame;

3. A window shade assembly adapted to be mounted upon the rear window of van automobile comprising a pair of spaced apart elongated support members, said support members having a plurality of generally arcuate, downwardly extending slots provided therein and longitudinally spaced therealong, a plurality of transversely curved slats formed of a resilient material tted in said spaced slots and readily removably supported thereby upon said support members, said spaced slots positioning said slats vertically one above the other to aiford vision through the window, the curvature of said arcuate slots bef ing diierent than the curvature of said curved each of said support members at their rear faces,

said strips adapted to be secured at their extremities to the rear Window frame.

2. A window shade assembly adapted to be mounted upon the rear window of an automobile comprising Ya pair of spaced apart elongated support members, said support members having a plurality of generally arcuate slots provided therein and longitudinally spaced therealong with said arcuate slots opening intoA a face of said support members and curving inwardly and downwardly from said face, a plurality of transversely curved slats formed of a resilient material iitted in said spaced slots and readily removably supported thereby upon said support members and positioned vertically spaced one above the other to afford vision through the window, the curvature of said arcuate slots being different than the curvature of said curved slats whereby said slats will be distorted on insertion into said slots to provide a holding force which maintains said slats in position, and means to secure said support members to the frame of the rear Window, said means comprising an elongated mounting strip secured to each of said support members and having generally arcuate portions provided at each of its extremities,

slats whereby said slats will be distorted on insertion into said slots to provide a holding force which maintains said slats in position, and means to secure said support members to the frame of the rear window, said means comprising a mounting member secured to each support member, said mounting members having a channel shaped portion adapted to fit upon and embrace the support member and generally arcuate portions extending from each end of said channel shaped portion, which arcuate portions are adapted to be secured by fasteners to the rear window frame.

GLENN A. HAMRICK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent: 

